This document discusses using case studies to teach ethics in bioscience education. It presents an approach using case studies, debates, news stories, and television programs to explore both what is scientifically possible and what is ethically appropriate. Case studies in particular are highlighted as a way to frame abstract ethical concepts in real-world scenarios and help students engage with complex issues.

1. Ethics teaching in the Biosciences, Leeds 2007
Using case studies to promote
ethical thinking and awareness
Dr Chris Willmott Dr Jim Parry
Dept of Biochemistry Dept of Philosophy
University of Leicester University of Leeds
cjrw2@le.ac.uk s.j.parry@leeds.ac.uk
University of
Leicester

2. Approaches
• Case studies/ scenarios
• Debate and role-play
• Newspapers
• Book extracts
• TV programmes
• Structured activity based on news footage
• Clips from other programmes
• Knowing what’s on and when

3. Bioethics = Bio AND Ethics!
• Science – COULD it be done?
• Ethics – SHOULD it be done?
Important that both are being considered:
Science without ethics may be immoral
Ethics without science may be impossible